Exodus 8:18

18 And the witches did in like manner by their enchantments, that they should bring forth gnats, and they might not; and gnats were as well in men as in work beasts. (And the witches did likewise with their enchantments, so that they would also bring forth gnats, but they could not do so; still, gnats covered all the people, and the work beasts as well.)

Exodus 8:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 8:18

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, to bring
forth lice
They made use of their magical art, and juggling tricks they were masters of, to produce the like sort of creatures, or at least to make such appear, or seem to appear, to the eyes of men:

but they could not;
God would not suffer them to do it, to impose upon Pharaoh, and deceive him and the Egyptians any longer; and a stop is put to them, when such small and despicable creatures were produced, the more to put them to shame and confusion, and to show that what they did before was not real, and that what they did in appearance was only by divine permission;

so there were lice upon man and upon beast;
these lay in great numbers on both, biting and distressing them in a most terrible manner; for as the magicians could not produce such creatures, it was not in their power to remove them.

Exodus 8:18 In-Context

16 And the Lord said to Moses, Speak thou to Aaron, Hold forth thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth (Say thou to Aaron, Stretch forth thy staff, and strike the dust of the earth), and little flies, or gnats, be in all the land of Egypt.

17 And they did so; and Aaron held forth the hand, and held the rod, and smote the dust of [the] earth; and gnats were made in men, and in work beasts; all the dust of the earth was turned into gnats by all the land of Egypt. (And they did so; and Aaron stretched forth the staff with his hand, and struck the dust of the earth; and gnats came on people, and on the work beasts; yea, all the dust of the earth was turned into gnats in all the land of Egypt.)

18 And the witches did in like manner by their enchantments, that they should bring forth gnats, and they might not; and gnats were as well in men as in work beasts. (And the witches did likewise with their enchantments, so that they would also bring forth gnats, but they could not do so; still, gnats covered all the people, and the work beasts as well.)

19 And the witches said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God. And the heart of Pharaoh was made hard, and he heard not them, as the Lord commanded (But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said).

20 And the Lord said to Moses, Rise thou (up) early, and stand before Pharaoh, for he shall go out to the waters; and thou shalt say to him, The Lord saith these things, Deliver thou my people, that it make sacrifice to me (The Lord saith these things, Let my people go, so that they can worship me);